Multiple Companies Ask The FCC To Look At Zero-Rated Data

Since the FCC introduced regulations regarding Net Neutrality, much of the focus has moved from the wider debate and centered in on the topic of zero-rated data. At least when it comes to the U.S. carriers and Net Neutrality. In fact, when it comes to the debate on zero-rated data it seems T-Mobile's Binge On is the poster child for such services, due to its nature of offering consumers more value for their data. Not cheaper data mind you, or even more data, but just a greater ability to stretch out their data by having costs associated with select services zeroed out. Providing you are a T-Mobile customer of course.

Since then, multiple streaming companies have signed up to the T-Mobile initiative and various groups including the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) have come out in defense of ‘services like Binge On’ and their ability to offer more consumers a greater ability to access more content. The latest companies to now officially join the debate includes a variety of household names such as Duck Duck Go, Haystack TV, Kickstarter, Mozilla, Pinterest, reddit, Vimeo and Yelp, among many others, who have now banded together to urge the FCC to take a stronger position against zero-rated data services.

The joint request comes in the form of an open letter to the FCC and while it is not fixated on any particular service (for instance, like Binge On), it is looking to the FCC to create a more transparent approach to investigating zero-rated data services. Citing that there are a number of these services that have come though since the introduction of the Open Internet Order. Therefore, there is a substantial amount of test cases already available to help provide the basis needed for the issue of zero-rating to be discussed. Equally, the letter looks to ask the FCC to make the discussion of these test cases and the wider zero-rating issue to be one which is open to the public and one which takes into consideration public participation when looking to draw a conclusion to what zero-rated data means and where its stands in regards to the Open Internet Order. Those interested in reading the open letter in full or the full list of signatories attached, can do so by heading through the source link below.

John has been writing about and reviewing tech products since 2014 after making the transition from writing about and reviewing airlines. With a background in Psychology, John has a particular interest in the science and future of the industry. Besides adopting the Managing Editor role at AH John also covers much of the news surrounding audio and visual tech, including cord-cutting, the state of Pay-TV, and Android TV. Contact him at [email protected]